EU calls for independent policies on China after Macron’s disputed Taiwan comments

European Union officials on Tuesday called for a latest and joint approach toward China, following French President Emmanuel Macron’s controversial comments on Taiwan earlier this month. Nevertheless, this latest strategy is unlikely to please america.

The Biden administration has to date adopted a very critical tone toward Beijing and recommend measures to limit China’s influence, including export restrictions on certain technologies. It has pushed European nations to do the identical.

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European nations currently have different views on coping with Beijing. Some capitals favor a better relationship with the U.S., given its critical role on security and defense — while other countries are afraid of antagonizing China and endangering deep economic ties. This has resulted in a divided approach toward China.

“I think we are able to, and we must, carve out our own distinct European approach that also leaves space for us to cooperate with other partners, too,” Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission —  the manager arm of the EU — said during a speech Tuesday.

She contended that the connection with China “is simply too necessary for us to not define our own European strategy and principles.”

China was the most important source of EU imports and the third-largest buyer of EU goods in 2022, based on Eurostat, highlighting Beijing’s economic importance for Europe. This is especially relevant when economic growth within the EU is vulnerable to the continued war in Ukrain.

European leaders have also tried to forge closer relations with Beijing, in order that the latter refrains from supporting Russia within the war with Ukraine. United States intelligence suggested China considered sending weapons and other ammunition to Russia, based on NBC News.

There’s also the query of climate change, where many EU leaders discover a dialogue with China pivotal toward any substantial progress in bringing down CO2 emissions.

“The purpose I made in Beijing is that we don’t need to chop economic, societal, political and scientific ties,” von der Leyen said on the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.

“But there may be an urgent must rebalance our relationship on the premise of transparency, predictability and reciprocity,” she stressed, adding that “the central a part of our future China strategy have to be economic de-risking.”

This marks a stark difference from the American perspective, as U.S. officials consider that an entire dissociation from Beijing — often called decoupling — is the perfect approach. For Europe, the intention is to scale back and avoid risks, slightly than an entire disengagement from China.

But there isn’t a doubt this can be a tricky process.

Getting back from a visit to China earlier this month, Macron said the EU must have its own policy on Taiwan and to avoid following the U.S. agenda on the matter. He later added that being allies doesn’t mean being vassals, reinforcing the thought of an independent EU policy.

His comments were received with criticism within the U.S., but in addition in Germany and other European nations.

“We remain fundamentally committed to EU’s One China Policy. We see no reason to query it. We must lower the stress; avoid verbal outbursts or provocations that may only fuel mistrust. Nevertheless, any try to change the established order by force can be unacceptable,” Josep Borrell, the EU’s top diplomat, said in a press release. He canceled a visit to China earlier this month, after testing positive for Covid-19.

On Tuesday, he added that the EU must recalibrate its strategy toward China.

“We’re in rival mode, but we’ve got to maintain talking with China,” Borrell said in Strasbourg.